Sunday, November 30, 2008

After having all sorts of problems in the first quarter during the past 4 games, the Panthers have gotten off to a fast start against Green Bay. A DeAngelo Williams TD has Carolina up, 7-0, and Green Bay has had to punt on each of its first three series in the first quarter.

On the game's first play from scrimmage, Carolina went against tendency with a beautiful call. DeAngelo Williams took a handoff, which is Carolina's normal first play, and then pitched it back to Jake Delhomme. All alone in the middle of the field was Muhsin Muhammad. Delhomme underthrew him or it could have been a 70-yard TD. Instead, it was a 44-yard gain -- but Moose fumbled the ball away.

But the Panthers scored a couple of drives later. DeAngelo Williams counted for every yard of a 42-yard march that was set up by Jason Baker's excellent punting and the defense's good play. DeAngelo finally knocked it in from a yard out to give Carolina its 7-0 lead. That's a far cry from the way Carolina began in its 45-28 loss to Atlanta last Sunday, when the Panthers were outgained, 162-0, in the first period.